Collected Poems

by Chuck Guilford

Homage to Beasts

I.

The Peregrine Falcon

Wings back flat, talon and talon,all eye and beak and feather,he descends through a sea of air, splitting downthrough the grassesto a warm pointof flesh.

II.

The Mosquito

The male, who is larger, will not penetrate your skinor drink your blood,unlike some other insects,the tick, for example,or the honey bee, but it’s hardsometimes to tell when one’s buzzingyour head, just what sex it isif you don’t have a very sharp eye and know just whatto look for.

III.

The Siamese Cat

Aloof as one can getwithout leaving the earth,and not without reasonconsidering the coat,sealpoint or chocolate,which she got from her mother,and the legs, which came downon her father’s side,not bad looking at alland perfect for jumping.

IV.

The Slug

What a sticky trail he leaveson the dew-damp two by foursout behind the garage every morningas he passes from damp place to dampplace, from darkness to dark,a tumescent green snail withouta shell, or some disembodied peniscoming home late from work.

V.

The Catfish

Found in almost every kind of waterexcept clean, and some survive there,one variety has even startedwalking, for miles acrossthe roads and open fieldsof Florida without provisions,yet despite, or perhapsbecause of such propensities,the whiskery critter,which has no scales,is a perennial favorite,deep-fried in a crisp beer batteron lazy summer Sundayseverywhere.